2017, Juvenile Nonfiction
WISE Score
A stylized Halloween alphabet book that swaps the usual 'A is for Apple' for a slightly spookier, toddler-safe vocabulary lesson.
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B Is for Boo is a top-tier seasonal board book. It avoids the neon-bright, cheap look of many holiday titles, opting instead for a vintage-modern aesthetic that looks great on a shelf and holds a toddler's attention.
It is exactly what it says on the tin: a way to practice letters while getting hyped for trick-or-treating. It is safe, sturdy, and just clever enough to keep it from being a chore to read aloud.
Best for the 2 to 5 crowd. It is a classic alphabet board book, so once a kid is reading full sentences, they will likely find this too simple, though the art might keep them around a bit longer.
It is a gentle, festive alphabet book designed for the youngest readers. The tone is celebratory rather than scary, making it a solid seasonal pick.
While it follows a standard ABC structure, it pulls in more interesting vocabulary like 'labyrinth' and 'quicksand' rather than sticking to the absolute basics.
It is a physical board book with zero digital risks and very mild, stylized 'spooky' imagery that is appropriate for toddlers.
Strong for early literacy and letter recognition. It builds background knowledge about seasonal traditions and expands vocabulary beyond the standard 'A is for Apple' fare.
Gibbs Smith has carved out a niche for making children's books that don't look like a primary-colored explosion in a toy factory. B Is for Boo follows that tradition. The illustrations are stylized and slightly retro, which makes the 'spooky' elements feel more like a fun costume party than a horror movie.
For parents working on the 'language comprehension' strand of literacy, this is a win. By using words like 'labyrinth' for L, you're introducing structural vocabulary that most ABC books skip. It's a small touch, but it builds the kind of background knowledge that pays off when they start reading more complex stories later on.
If your kid is in that sweet spot where they want to be part of the Halloween conversation but are still genuinely afraid of the dark, this is a perfect bridge. It treats the holiday like a fun puzzle rather than something to be feared. It's a solid addition to the October rotation that you'll actually be happy to pull out every year until they outgrow their phonics cards.
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